Clasp fastener and method of manufacturing the same



J. F. RUIZ April 25, 1967 CLASP FASTENER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME Filed Feb, 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

April 25, 1967 J. F. RUIZ CLASP FASTENER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME Filed Feb. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/g] Hg 5 H99 United States Patent 14 Claims. ci. z-zss The present invention relates to clasp fasteners and a method for manufacturing the same.

Clasp fasteners are well known in the art and they comprise two stringers which respectively include male and female elements adapted to interengage with each other. The male elements are usually in the form of hooks made from wire and they are sewn uniformly spaced from each other on a tape or band of one stringer, and the female elements are in the form of wire loops or eyes sewn at corresponding distances spaced from each other on the tape of the other stringer. The attachment of the male and female closure elements to tapes of the respective stringers by sewing is a rather diflicult and timeconsuming operation and since according to the prior art the male and female closure elements are directly sewn to the supporting tape, the resulting clasp fastener is rather stiff and the closure thereof is usually difficult and inconvenient. Special difiiculties are encountered when the supporting tapes are made of elastic material which is especially advisable when the clasp fastener is used in a foundation-type garment, and as far as applicant knows, clasp fasteners have not been made with elastic supporting tapes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a clasp fastener which overcomes the disadvantages of clasp fasteners known in the art.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide for a clasp fastener which differs by its flexibility in a highly advantageous manner from clasp fasteners known in the art and which is constructed to be easily engageable while maintaining the clasp fastener elements securely attached to the supporting bands.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a clasp fastener in which the supporting bands can also be made from elastic material.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing clasp fasteners of the aforementioned type which can be carried with a minimum of operations sothat the clasp fastener can be produced at very reasonable cost. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for a clasp fastener and a method for manufacturing the same in which the clasp fastener elements on the two stringers, when engaged, are completely covered so that the clasp fastener will have a very neat appearance.

Finally, it is alsoan object of the present invention to provide fora method of manufacturing clasp fasteners in which the clasp fastener elements are securely attached to the supporting bands regardless whether the supporting band is formed from elastic or nonelastic material.

With these objects in view, the method of manufacturing clasp fastener stringers having a plurality of clasp fastener elements each including a substantially loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of the attaching portion, mainly comprises the steps of inserting a shortpiece of ribbon through the attaching portion of each element on the stringer with the ends of the ribbon extending to the side of the attaching portion which is opposite to that from which the connecting portion projects, placing a plurality of clasp fastener elements respectively spaced from each other on a band with the attaching portion thereof and the ribbons inserted therethrough abutting against a surface of the band and the connecting portions of the fastener elements projecting therefrom, and connecting the ribbons to the band by means of a straight seam extending in longitudinal direction of the band.

The method may also include the step of forming in an elongated band a plurality of short slots spaced from each other in longitudinal direction and aligned with each other in this direction along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of the band, extending the connection portions of the plurality of clasp fastener elements respectively through the aforementioned slots with the attaching portions of the elements and the ribbons inserted therethrough abutting against one surface of the band, folding the band along a fold line substantially parallel to the aforementioned line along which the slots are aligned so as to sandwich the attaching portions of the elements and the ribbons inserted therethrough between abutting portions of the folded band and connecting the ribbons between the abutting folded portions of the band to the band and the abutting folded portions to each other by means of a straight seam extending in longitudinal direc tion of the folded hand through the abutting portions thereof and the ribbons sandwiched therebetween.

The slots and the supporting band may be made along a line which is equally spaced from the opposite edges of the band, or the slots may be made along the line which is closer to one of the longitudinal edges than to the other one. In the first case, the fold line is made to coincide with the line along which the slots are aligned and in this case the connecting portions of the clasp fastener elements will project, when the latter are inserted through the slots, from the fold line of the folded band. In this case it is preferred to sew a second hand to one of the folded portions of the first band in such a manner that an edge portion of the second hand extends beyond the fold line so as to cover the connecting portions of the clasp fastener elements projecting beyond the fold line of the first band from one side thereof.

In the second case, the band is folded along a fold line equally spaced from the opposite longitudinal edges of the band so that the slots will be located not on the fold line, but on one of the folded portions of the band spaced from the fold line at such a distance that the connecting portions of the clasp fastener elements protruding through the slots will be covered at one side thereof by the folded portions of the band adjacent to the fold line.

Instead of forming short slots in the band and folding the latter after or before the clasp fastenerelements with the short ribbons inserted through the attaching portions thereof are extended respectively through the slots in the aforementioned manner, it is also possible to use two bands of different widths and to place the attaching portions with the ribbons inserted therethrough of a plurality of fastener elements against one surface of the band of smaller widths with the connecting portions of the elements projecting beyond one edge of the first band, to place then the second hand of a width greater than that of the first hand against the surface of the first band, on which the attaching portions of the fastener elements with the ribbons inserted therethrough are placed, in such a manner that an edge portion of the second wider band extends over and covers the connecting portions projecting beyond one edge of the first band and to finish the clasp fastener stringer by then sewing the abutting portions of the two bands with the ribbons sandwiched therebetween 7 together.

In all cases the attachment of the clasp fastener elements to the supporting band will be extremely simple since this attachment may be produced with one straight seam. Nevertheless, the attachment of the clasp fastener elements to the band will be very secure regardless whether the supporting band is made from elastic or nonelastic material. Furthermore, the clasp fastener stringer can be produced with a minimum of overlapping portions so that the stringer will have great flexibility, and the appearance of the clasp fastener produced will be very neat since the connecting portions of the fastener elements will be covered at least on one side thereof.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will bebest understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial front view of a clasp fastener stringer having male or hook shaped fastener elements, with a portion of the supporting band removed to show the way of attachment of the fastener element;

FIG. 2 is a transverse cross section of the stringer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial front view of a clasp fastener stringer having fem-ale fastener elements adapted to cooperate with the male fastener elements shown in FIG. I, and in FIG. 3 a portion of the supporting band is also removed to show the attachment of the clasp fastener element;

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross section through the stringer shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial front view of a band which may be used in manufacturing the stringers shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and FIG. 5 shows the band in unfolded condition;

FIG. 6 is a cross section through the band shown in FIG. 5, but showing the band in folded condition;

FIG. 7 is a cross section through a clasp fastener stringer showing a further modification according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross section through a band construction for manufacturing clasp fastener stringers;

FIG. 9 is a cross section similar to FIG. 8, but showing a fastener element connected to the band construction;

FIG. 10 is a partial front view of the clasp fastener stringer shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is across section through two stringers engaged with each other; and

FIG. 12 is a cross section similar to FIG. 11 and showing a further modification.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the same in which a clasp fastener stringer having male or hook shaped fastener elements is illustrated, it will be seen that the clasp fastener stringer illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a pluralityof male fastener elements having each substantially loop shaped attaching portion 6 and a hook shaped connecting portion 4. A short piece of ribbon '5 is inserted through the attaching portion 6 of each clasp fastener element with the free ends of the ribbon extending beyond the loop shaped attaching portion 6 to the side of the latter opposite to the side to which the connecting portion 4 projects. The stringer shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 further comprises band means preferably in form of a band folded in a manner which will be described in further detail below to provide a pair of overlapping portions 1 and 2 and a covering portion 3 serving to cover the connecting portions 4 of the clasp fastener elements which respectively protrude through slots in the portion 2 of the folded band. The slots in the folded band are aligned with each other in longitudinal direction and uniformly spaced from each other in this direction. The connecting portions 4 of the fastener elements protrude respectively through the slots, while the attaching portions 6 with the short ribbons 5 inserted therethrough are sandwiched between the overlapping portions 1 and 2 as best shown in FIG. 2. After the fastener elements and the ribbons are thus positioned with respect to the band, the overlapping portions 1 and 4 2 of the band and the ribbons 5 sandwiched therebetween are connected to each other by means of a straight seam 13 extending in longitudinal direction of the band.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a like fastener stringer having female elements adapted to cooperate with the male elements on a stringer as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The construction of the stringer shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is substantially the same as the stringer described above, and the stringer shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has a plurality of female fastener elements having a substantially loop shaped attaching portion 11 and a substantially loop shaped connecting portion 9. A short ribbon 12 is inserted through the loop shaped attaching portion 11 of each fastener element with the free ends of the ribbon 12 extending to the side of the loop shaped attaching portion 11 opposite to the side from which the connecting portion 9 projects. The connecting portions 9 of the fastener elements are respectively extended through slots 10 provided in the band means, and the latter again includes a pair of overlapping portions 7 and 8 and a covering portion 15 which covers the connecting portions 9 of the female fastener elements protruding through the slots 10. The overlapping portions 7 and 8 of the band and the short ribbons 12 sandwiched therebetween are then connected together by a straight seam 14.

The band means having the overlapping portions and the covering portion as above described is preferably produ'ced by form-ing first a plurality of short slots 17 in an unfolded band 16 spaced from each other in longitudinal direction and aligned with each other in this direction along a line which is closer spaced to one of the longitudinal edges of the band than to the other edge. As viewed in FIG. 5, the short slots 17 are formed closer to the upper edge of the hand than to the lower one. The band is then folded along a fold line parallel to and equally spaced from the opposite longitudinal edges of the band in-the manner as shown in the cross section of FIG. 6 so that the short slots -17 will be located not along the fold line but 'On one of the overlapping portions of the folded band thus produced. The overlapping portions of the band may then be sewn together by a straight seam 18 between the fold line and the line along which the slots 17 are formed to thus produce a covering portion 3 or 15 as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 4 in which the overlapping portions are closely together while the remainder of the overlapping portions are spaced apart so that the attaching portions of the clasp fastener elements and the ribbons inserted ther-et-hrough may be sandwiched therebetween.

Instead of folding aband in the aforementioned manner, it is also possible to weave band means having a covering portion 3 and overlapping portions 1 and 2 substantially as shown in FIG. 2 and to form then the slots through which the connecting portions of the clasp fastener elements extend in the portion 2.

The band means shown in FIGS. 1-4 or the band 16 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 'are preferably made from elastic material, especially if the clasp fastener stringers are to be used on foundation garments such as girdles or corsets. The short ribbons 5 or '12, on the other hand, are preferably made from nonel-astic material.

FIG. 7 shows a further modification of a fastener stringer according to the present invention. The stringer shown in FIG. 7 comprises a first band 20 and a second band 21 of a width greater than the band 20. The attaching portions 6 of fastener elements with short ribbons respectively inserted therethrough, in the manner as described before, are placed uniformly spaced from each other against one surface of the ribbon 20 with the connecting portions 4 of the fastener elements respectively extending beyond the upper edge of the ribbon 20. The second band 21 is then placed against the aforementioned surface of the ribbon 20 with the lower edges of the two bands aligned and with the upper edge portion 24 of the wider band 21 extending beyond the upper edge portion of the band 20 so as to cover the connecting portions of the fastener elements protruding beyond the upper edge of the band 20. The short ribbons sandwiched between portions of the bands 20 and 21 are then connected to the band portions and the latter are connected to each other by a straight seam 22 extending in longitudinal direction of the bands. Preferably, the upper edge of the band 20 is also connected to the band 21 by an additional seam 23.

FIGS. 8-10 show an additional modification of a clasp fastener stringer according to the present invention.

The stringer illustrated in these figures includes a folded band having a pair of overlapping portions 26 and 27 provided with a plurality of short slots 28 which are aligned in longitudinal direction and spaced from each other in the direction in the manner as described in connection with FIG. 5. However, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 8 the slots 28-are aligned along a line which substantially coincide-s with the fold line of the band. In order to cover the portions of the fastener elements protruding through the slots 28, a second band 25 is used which is attached by a straight seam 29 to the portion 26 of the folded band in such a manner that an edge portion of the band 25 extends beyond the fold line of the first band. The finished stringer shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 further includes a plurality of fastener elements, shown in these figures as female fastener elements, which respectively project with their connecting portions 9 through the" aforementioned slots28, while the attaching portions 11 with the short ribbons 12 respectively inserted therethrough, in the manner as described before, are sandwiched between the overlapping portions 26 and 27 of the folded first band. Subsequently thereto the portions 26 and 27 of the folded band and the short ribbons 12 sandwiched therebetween are connected to each other by a straight seam 30. Instead of attaching the ribbon 25 by means of a separate sea-m 29 to the portion 26 of the folded band, it is also possible to combine the operation of attaching the band 25 to the folded band with the attaching of the ribbons 1'2 sandwiched between the folded portions 26 and 27 of the first band into a single operation and to connect all these elements by a single straight seam to each other. i

FIG. 11 showsa further modification in which the additional band 3a attached to the portion 26 of the folded band of one stringer projects beyond the folded edge of the stringer for such a distance that the band 3a will also cover the connecting portions 9 of the stringer cooperating with the connecting portions 4 of the first stringer so that the connecting portions of both stringer, after being engaged with each other, are-covered by the band 311.

FIG. 12 shows a furthermodification in which the other stringer is also provided withjfa covering band 25 connected thereto in such a manner that after the stringers are attached to 'a garment and interconnected with each other, both sides of the interengaging connecting portions of the two stringers are covered.

As mentioned before, the various bands to which the clasp fastener elements are connected are preferably made from elastic material, but obviously also nonelastic material may be used for the bands.

It will be understood that eachof the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of clasp fastener stringers differing from the types described above.

While the invention.v has been illustrated and described as embodied in a clasp fastener stringer, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of ,this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of manufacturing clasp fastener stringers having a plurality of ,clasp fastener elements each including a substantially loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to engage with a corresponding connecting portion of a clasp fastener element on another stringer, comprising the steps of inserting a short piece of ribbon through the attaching portion of each fastener element of the one stringer with the ends of said ribbon extending to the side of the attaching portion which is opposite to that from which said connecting portion projects; placing a plurality of clasp fastener elements respectively spaced from each other on a band with said attaching portion thereof and said ribbons inserted therethrough abutting against one surface of the band and said connecting portions of said fastener elements projecting therefrom; and connecting said ribbons at parts thereof extending beyond said attaching portions to said band by means of a straight seam extending in longitudinal direction of said hand through the latter and said ribbons.

2. A method of manufacturing clasp fastener stringers having a plurality of clasp fastener elements each including a substantially loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to engage with a corresponding connecting portion of a clasp fastener element on another stringer, comprising the steps of inserting a short piece of ribbon through the attaching portion of each fastener element of the one stringer with the ends of said ribbon extending to the side of the attaching portion which is opposite to that from which said connecting portion projects; placing a plurality of clasp fastener elements respectively spaced from each other on an elastic band with said attaching portion thereof and said ribbons inserted therethrough abutting against one surface of the band and said connecting portions of said fastener elements projecting therefrom; and connecting said ribbons at parts thereof extending beyond said attaching portions to said bands by means of a straight seam extending in longitudinal direction of'said band through the latter and said ribbons.

3. A method of manufacturing clasp fastener stringers having a plurality of clasp fastener elements each including a substantially loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to engage with a corresponding connecting portion of a clasp fastener element on another stringer, comprisingthe steps of inserting a short piece of ribbon through the attaching portion of each fastener elements of the one stringer with the ends of said ribbon extending to the side of the attaching portion which is opposite to that from which said connecting portion projects; placing a plurality of clasp fastener elements respectively spaced from each other on overlapping portions of band means with said attaching portions thereof and said ribbons inserted therethrough sandwiched between said overlapping portions and said connecting portions of said fastener elements projecting therefrom; and connecting said ribbons to said overlapping portions and the latter to each other by means of a straight seam extending in longitudinal direction of said band means through said overlapping portions and said ribbons sandwi ched therebetween.

4. A method of manufacturing clasp fastener stringers having a plurality of clasp fastener elements each I including a substantially loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portions thereof and said ribbons inserted therethrough sandwiched between said overlapping portions and said connecting portions of said fastener elements projecting therefrom; and connecting said ribbons to said overlapping portions and the latter to each other by means of a straight seam extending in longitudinal direction of said band means through said overlapping portions and said rib b'ons sandwiched therebetween.

5. A method of manufacturing clasp fastener stringers having a plurality of clasp fastener elements each including a substantially loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to engage with a corresponding connecting portion of a clasp fastener element on another stringer, comprising the steps of inserting a short piece of ribbon through the attaching portion of each fastener element of the one stringer with the ends of said ribbon extending to the side of the attaching portion which is opposite to that from which said connecting portion projects; forming in an elongated band a plurality of short slots spaced from each other in longitudinal direction and aligned with each other in said direction alone a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of said band; extending the connecting portions of said plurality of clasp fastener elements respectively through said slots with said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons in- .serted therethrough abutting against a surface of said band; folding said band along a fold line substantially parallel to said line along which said slots are aligned so as to sandwich said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons inserted therethrough between overlapping portions of said folded band; and connecting said ribbons to said overlapping portions and the latter to each other by means of a straight seam extending in longitudinal direction of said band means through said overlapping portions and said ribbons sandwiched therebetween.

6. A method of manufacturing clasp fastener stringers having a plurality of clasp fastener elements each including a substantially loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to engage with a corresponding connecting portion of a clasp fastener element on another stringer, comprising the steps of inserting a short piece of ribbon through the attaching portion of each fastener element of the one stringer with the ends of said ribbon extending to the side of the attaching portion which is opposite to that from which said connecting portion projects; forming in an elongated band a plurality of short slots spaced from each other in longitudinal direction and aligned with each other in said direction along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of said band and closer to one than to the other of said longitudinal edges; extending the connecting portions of said plurality of clasp fastener elements respectively through said slots with said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons inserted therethrough abutting against a surface of said band; folding said band along a fold line equally spaced from said longitudinal edges of said band' and substantially parallel to said line along which said slots are aligned so as to sandwich said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons inserted therethrough between overlapping portions of said folded band while folded and integrally connected band portions will project to one side of said slots and cover the connecting portions 7 of said elements extending therethrough atone side thereof; and connecting said ribbons to said overlapping portions and the latter to each other by means of a straight seam extending in longitudinal direction of said band means through said overlapping portions and said ribbons sandwiched therebetween.

7. A method of manufacturing clasp fastener stringers having a plurality of clasp fastener elements each including a substantially loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to engage with a corresponding connecting portion of a clasp fastener element on another stringer, comprising the steps of inserting a short piece of ribbon through the attaching portion of each fastener element of the one stringer with the ends of said ribbon extending to the side of the attaching portion which is opposite to that from which said connecting portion projects; forming in an elongated band a plurality of short slots spaced from each other in longitudinal direction and aligned with each other in said direction along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of said band and closer to one than to the other of said longitudinal edges; extending the connecting portions of said plurality of clasp fastener elements respectively through said slots with said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons inserted therethrough abutting against a surface of said band; folding said band along a fold line equally spaced from said longitudinal edges of said band and substantially parallel to said line along which said slots are aligned so as to sandwich said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons inserted therethrough between overlapping portions of said folded band while folded and integrally connected band portions will project to one side of said slots and cover the connecting portions of said elements extending therethrough at one side thereof; sewing a straight seam parallel to said fold line through said integrally connected portions of said band; and connecting said ribbons to said overlapping portions and the latter to each other by means of a straight seam extending in longitudinal direction of said band through said overlapping portions and said ribbons sandwiched therebetween.

8. A method of manufacturing clasp fastener stringers having a plurality of clasp fastener elements each including a substantially loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to engage with a corresponding connecting portion of a clasp fastener element on another stringer, comprising the steps of inserting a short piece of ribbon through the attaching portion of each fastener element of the one stringer with the ends of said ribbon extending to the side of the attaching portion which is opposite to that from which said connecting portion projects; placing a plurality of clasp fastener elements spaced from each other along a first band of a given width with said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons respectively inserted therethrough abutting against one surface of said first band and the connecting portions of said elements projecting beyond one edge of said first band; placing a second band of a width greater than that of the first band, against said one surface of the latter with one edge portion of said second band extending beyond said one edge of said first band so that said one edge portion of said second hand covers said connecting portions of said elements from one side there-' of while said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons respectively inserted therethrough are sandwiched between overlapping portions of said bands; and connecting said overlapping portions of said first and said second hand by means of at least one straight seam extending in longitudinal direction of said bands through said overlapping portions thereof and said ribbons sandwiched therebetween.

9. A method of manufacturing clasp fastener stringers having a plurality of clasp fastener elements each including a substantially loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to engage with a corresponding connecting portion of a clasp fastener element on another stringer, comprising the steps of inserting a short piece of ribbon through the attaching portion of each fastener element of the one stringer with the ends of said ribbon extending to the side of the attaching portion which is opposite to that from which said connecting portion projects; placing a plurality of clasp fastener elements spaced from each other along a first elastic band of a given width with said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons respectively inserted therethrough abutting against one surface of said first band and the connecting portions of said elements projecting beyond one edge of said first band; placing a second elastic band of a width greater than that of the first band against said one surface of the latter with one edge portion of said second band extending beyond said one edge of said first band and with the other edges of said bands aligned with each other so that said one edge portion of said second band covers said connecting portions of said elements from one side thereof while said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons respectively inserted therethrough are sandwiched between overlapping portions of said bands; connecting said one edge of said first band by means of a straight seam to said second band; and connecting said overlapping portions of said first and said second band by means of a second straight seam extending in longitudinal direction of said bands through said overlapping portions thereof and said ribbons sandwiched therebetween.

10. A method of manufacturing clasp fastener stringers having a plurality of clasp fastener elements each including a substantially loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to engage with a corresponding connecting portion of a clasp fastener element on another stringer, comprising the steps of inserting a short piece of ribbon through the attaching portion of each fastener element of the one stringer with the ends of said ribbon extending to the side of the attaching portion which is opposite to that from which said connecting portion projects; forming in an elongated band a plurality of short slots spaced from each other in longitudinal direction and aligned with each other in said direction along a line substantially parallel to and equally spaced from the longitudinal edges of said band; extending the connecting portions of said plurality of clasp fastener elements respectively through said slots with said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons inserted therethrough abutting against a surface of said band; folding said band along said line along which said slots are aligned so as to sandwich said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons inserted therethrough between overlapping portions of said folded band; placing a second band against the outer surface of One of said portions of said folded band with an edge portion of said second hand extending beyond said line along which said first band is folded for a distance sufficient to cover said connecting portions of said elements projecting through said slots to one side of said line; and connecting said second band to said folded portions of said first band and said ribbons sandwiched between said folded portions to the latter by means of a straight seam extending in longitudinal direction of said bands through said second band, said folded portions of said first band and said ribbons sandwiched between said folded portions.

11. A clasp fastener stringer, comprising, in combination, a plurality of fastener elements having each a loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to interengage with a corresponding connecting portion of a fastener element on a second stringer; a plurality of short ribbons respectively extending through said loop shaped attaching portions of said plurality of fastener elements with the ends of each ribbon extending to the side of the respective attaching portion which is opposite to that from which the respective connecting portion projects; elongated band means having a pair of overlapping portions between which said attaching portions of said elements with said ribbons inserted therethrough are sandwiched spaced from each other while said connecting portions of said elements project to one side of said band means, said band means having an elongated portion covering said projecting connecting portions of said ele ments from one side thereof; and straight seam means connecting said overlapping portions of said band means and said ribbons sandwiched therebetween to each other.

12. A clasp fastener stringer, comprising, in combination, a plurality of fastener elements having each a loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to interengage with a corresponding connecting portion of a fastener element on a second stringer; a plurality of short ribbons respectively extending through said loops-haped attaching portions of said plurality of fastener elements with the ends of each ribbon extending to the side of the respective attaching portion which is opposite to that from which the respective connecting portion projects; elongated elastic band means having a pair of overlapping portions between which said attaching portions of said elements with said ribbons inserted therethrough are sandwiched spaced from each other while said connecting portions of said elements project to one side of said band means, said band means having an elongated portion covering said projecting connecting portions of said elements from one side thereof; and straight seam means connecting said overlapping portions of said band means and said ribbons sandwiched therebetween to each other.

13. A clasp fastener stringer, comprising, in combination, a plurality of fastener elements having each a loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to interengage with a corresponding connecting portion of a fastener element on a second stringer; a plurality of short ribbons respectively extending through said loop shaped attaching portions of said plurality of fastener elements with the ends of each ribbon extending to the side of the respective attaching portion which is opposite to that from which the respective connecting portion projects; an elongated band formed with a plurality of short slots spaced in longitudinal direction from each other and aligned with each other in said direction along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of said band and spaced closer to one than to the other of said longitudinal edges, said band being folded along a fold line extending parallel to said line and being equally spaced from said longitudinal edges of said band and said connecting portions of said elements respectively extending through said slots with said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons respectively inserted therethrough sandwiched between folded and overlapping portions of said band while a portion of said folded band adjacent to said fold line will extend rearwardly and to one side of said connecting portions extending through said slots; and straight seam means connecting said overlapping portions of said band means and said ribbons sandwiched therebetween to each other.

14. A clasp fastener stringer, comprising, in combination, a plurality of fastener elements having each a loop shaped attaching portion and a connecting portion projecting to one side of said attaching portion and adapted to interengage with .a corresponding connecting portion of a fastener element on a second stringer; a plurality of short ribbons respectively extending through said loop shaped attaclhing portions of said plurality of fastener elements with the ends of each ribbon extending to the side of the respective attaching portion which is opposite 1 1 to that from which the respective connecting portion projects; an elongated band formed with a plurality of short slots spaced in longitudinal direction from each and aligned with each other in said direction along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of said band and equally spaced therefrom, said band being folded along said line and said connecting portions of said elements respectively extending through said slots beyond said fold line with said attaching portions of said elements and said ribbons respectively inserted therethrough sand wiched between folded and overlapping portions of said band; a second band abutting against the outer surface of one of said folded portions of said first band, said second band having an edge portion extending beyond said fold line so as to cover said connecting portions extending beyond said fold line at one side thereof; and straight seam means extending in longitudinal direction of said tions of said first band and said ribbons sandwiched between said folded portions to the latter.

References Cited by theExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS 434,546 2/1890 Lyon 446,270 2/1891 Spitz 3,050,740 8/1962 Simpson l0 FOREIGN PATENTS 618,986 12/1926 France. 694,398 9/ 1930 France.

15 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

A. R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner 

1. A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING CLASP FASTENER STRINGERS HAVING A PLURALITY OF CLASP FASTENER ELEMENTS EACH INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY LOOP SHAPED ATTACHING PORTION AND A CONNECTING PORTION PROJECTING TO ONE SIDE OF SAID ATTACHING PORTION AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE WITH A CORRESPONDING CONNECTING PORTION OF A CLASP FASTENER ELEMENT ON ANOTHER STRINGER, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF INSERTING A SHORT PIECE OF RIBBON THROUGH THE ATTACHING PORTION OF EACH FASTENER ELEMENT OF THE ONE STRINGER WITH THE ENDS OF SAID RIBBON EXTENDING TO THE SIDE OF THE ATTACHING PORTION WHICH IS OPPOSITE TO THAT FROM WHICH SAID CONNECTING PORTION PROJECTS; PLACING A PLURALITY OF CLASP FASTENER ELEMENTS RESPECTIVELY SPACED FROM EACH OTHER ON A BAND WITH SAID ATTACHING PORTION THEREOF AND SAID RIBBONS INSERTED THERETHROUGH ABUTTING AGAINST ONE SURFACE OF THE BAND AND SAID CONNECTING PORTIONS OF SAID FASTENER ELEMENTS PROJECTING THEREFROM; AND CONNECTING SAID RIBBONS AT PARTS THEREOF EXTENDING BEYOND SAID ATTACHING PORTIONS TO SAID BAND BY MEANS OF A STRAIGHT SEAM EXTENDING IN LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID BAND THROUGH THE LATTER AND SAID RIBBONS. 